Rookie running back Omarion Hampton was really starting to find his rythm in the NFL before an injury halted the momentum and placed him on injured reserve. With the Chargers preparing for their Week 10 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, fans are curious when the rookie will return.
When Will Omarion Hampton Return?
Hampton injured his left ankle late in the third quarter of the Chargers’ Week 5 loss to the Washington Commanders when a defender stepped on the back of his foot on fourth-and-two, forcing him to exit in a walking boot. The Chargers placed him on injured reserve the following Wednesday, guaranteeing a minimum four-game absence.​
At the time, it was unclear exactly how long the 22-year-old would be sidelined. Some believed he could return after the four-week minimum, while others projected a six- to eight-week recovery timeline. With Hampton having already missed five weeks, the picture has become clearer.
According to head coach Jim Harbaugh, Hampton is not expected to return from IR until after the team’s Week 12 bye. This is the most prudent course of action regardless of how he is feeling, affording him what would amount to two additional full weeks of recovery so he can return completely healthy in Week 13.​
Before Hampton can practice, he must be designated for return from injured reserve, which would open his 21-day practice window. He will likely receive that designation next week after being spotted working off to the side at Friday’s practice.
Without Hampton, the Chargers’ ground game has been up and down. Kimani Vidal has handled most of the carries and provided solid production, but the offense hasn’t found the same rhythm it had when Hampton was active. According to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, Los Angeles currently ranks 15th in the league with an impact score of 76.6, reflecting the unit’s inconsistent performance since the loss of its top back.
Hampton’s power between the tackles and ability to create yards after contact gave the Chargers a physical edge that’s been missing over the past month. Through five games, he ran for 314 yards and two touchdowns while also adding 20 receptions for 136 yards, ranking 32nd in PFSN’s RB Impact metric with an impact score of 73.7.
In his absence, expect Kimani Vidal to continue leading the Chargers’ backfield. Through four starts in the six games, Vidal has totaled 309 rushing yards with both a rushing and receiving touchdown.
If Hampton progresses as expected, Chargers fans should anticipate his return in Week 1, providing a much-needed boost for the stretch run.
